I believe dogs do have some form of connection with us, and they tune to our senses very quickly, which is likely down to their strong empathy of showing love towards others sometimes, whether it's a smile or tail wag.
I've experienced a connection with a past dog i had, a couple of times due to feeling unsure when approaching some people, he picked up on it rapidly, nether the less things settled down once i settled and assured him to not grumble anymore.
I believe that also, and very strongly. They have lived with us for at least 15,000 years and maybe we have evolved into the relationship without knowing, or, maybe dogs are just plain smarter in lots of ways we don't give them credit for. Whatever happened, they make great companions.
Thank you for the resteem, @drvimto!
You're welcome. Ït's a post every dog owner should see, beit a new owner to longterm.
Yes theres a lot of questions regarding dogs that always come to mind.. Found that they tend to mould to owners characteristics usually, or maybe imitate different things we may do.. mine would smile if i would do so, though sometimes they'd copy it, if they had been partly bad, i'd talk stern, and they smile thinking it's probably funny.. Over all they do spend time learning why we do what we do, when we all could interact more using our senses, we might understand one another more.
Think of what an amazing survival trait that is for any being: the ability to reproduce the correct emotional response the the other species' actions! They learn to smile (as did my yellow Lab, Sam) and it always disarmed me of any temporary anger I may have felt, or brought humor into a situation. How is that for "getting along with the natives?"
Being sensitive to other humans is one thing we all fail miserably at and that leads to more distrust and ultimately to conflict when difficult situations could have been defused with a grin...or a tail wag. We spend too much time thinking about our own feelings when the other person is trying to express theirs. Often when I talk to Mike, he has such an intense, focused look as if he is trying hard at his limits to understand what I'm saying. I know he does not get the words, but he probably does get my underlying emotions when I'm saying them.
Animals are smarter than us and may use the basics, which gives relief in many ways. because us humans tend to over think and which in turn can over complicate matters, then resolve to going back to using simple matters..
Owned one or two dogs in the past.. Labs were a favourite for their all round temperament, 2nd were collie mix breeds.. last one i had was very smart, it was surprising he never ran off completely. long story short, sometimes would sneak out due to others not watching him. he'd sometimes go 5hrs and return unharmed and happy as if it was funny. despite getting walks and footie/tennis ball/stick time too..
Thats true, something we could all learn more on, how to suppress our negative side when it comes to emotions, though it's easier said than done!
Dogs do find us strange to understand, hence when we use our senses and empathy towards them, they tune better to us.
Maybe the development of our brains allowing complex thought sent us along a developmental path that neglected the emotional sensitivity path that other animals excel in. The lack of technical abilities to build and expand and always destroy in the process may turn out to NOT be a valuable survival trait where animals living in groups where being in tune emotionally is a longer term survival strength.
Mankind has run amok on the planet and the four footed Canis never has so far as I know. Maybe they are doing things right and we are not.
That is an interesting question: which is the better long range survival skill complex technical thinking, or emotional sensitivity?
Oh...My Lab, Sam, was a wonderful, absolutely loyal and steadfast friend. I could never ask for a better companion.
most likely, because our minds race so much, when we're bursting full of ideas and everything else, from a young age, it becomes one erratic state. So we forget our true ways within our own self. apart from our basics of loyalty respect so forth.
Indeed we've caused a meltdown to society in some way... cause & affect.. where something maybe done for good, it's affected another..
good question, id probably say all to balance it.. because as you're aware, emotions do so much on controlling us, if we allow it "depending on the situation too"
had 2 labs over the years, blackies.. one was very protective that wasn't fond of dogs except the current one i had.. he use to climb 5ft fences we extended it to 6.. he still tried but gave up..
the other lab was great, loyal, though mostly like the mind of a 5yr old even up til 16...
Yep, I think we missed the correct development path. Kid of like the Labs when they are younger: anything can cause a SQUIRREL moment and they totally lose focus on ...whatever it was.
Sam was like the 5 year-old until his death at 12 yrs. Always ready to go into full play mode, but got serious when I was on the tractor and trotted along with the left front tire for as long as I worked. I used to stop just so he would take a break and have some shade.
He was a climber too, but it was separation anxiety and he tried to not let me get out of his sight. I finally let him go everywhere with me in the truck and he loved it.
Overall, I know of no reason Labs should not have souls. Since their brains are capable of loyalty, affection, trust, tenderness and who knows what else, what criteria would disqualify them? All people are assumed to have souls and I know of many I seriously doubt have one, and of many others who have deliberately destroyed other people. Dogs do not do that. I do not see any reason why people should be a special exempt case and all have souls.
labs and collies i found the best breeds for multi reasons, be it service dog or family. labs being most docile when required, and collies for their intelligence and persistence. shepherds i found are mostly protectors and one man dogs, hence id see the police use them here..